Ring clamp



April 14, 1953 J. KARTY ET AL RING CLAMP Filed Feb. 24, 1947 INVENTORS Juuus L. KARTY MILTON LIEF ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 14, 1953 RING CLAMP Julius L. Karty, St. Louis, and Milton Lief, Overland, Mo., assignors to Universal Match Corporation, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Delaware Application February 24, 1947, Serial No. 730,362

4. Claims- (01. 248-4231) This invention relates generally to ring-clamps and, more particularly, to a certain new and useful improvement in. ring-clamps. especially adapted. for mounting a cigarette. box or other. similar device upon a steering. or other post.

The primary object of the present. invention is to provide a ring-clamp of the type, and for the purpose, stated which is simple, sturdy, durable, and economical in construction.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a ring-clamp of the type stated which may be quickly and conveniently mounted upon an automobile steering post in any desired position and is readily adaptable to posts of varying.

, shapes and sizes.

A further object of the present invention. is to provide a ring-clamp of the type stated which will hold a cigarette. box or similar device upon a steering post firmly and in a readily accessible position.

And with the above-and other objects, in view, our invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combination of parts presently described and pointed out in the claims.

' In the accompanying drawing.

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating a preferred form of ring-clamp constructed in accordance with and embodying the-present invention, the bracket being shown in combination with a' cigarettebox and automobile steering post;

Figure 2 is an "exploded" perspective viewof a clip and stud bolt forming apart oithe present Figure 8' is a transverse sectional. view taken.

along line 8+8 of. Figure 7; and

Figure 9 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 9-9 of Figure '7.

Referring now in more detail, and by reference characters to the drawing, which illustrates prac tical embodiments of the. present invention, A

2 designates a ring-clamp comprising a band I constructed preferably of relatively thin strap metal, or other suitable flexible material, for loopwise encircling a steering post or the like B. The ends of the band I are provided with out-turned ears 2, 2, respectively, each having a circular aperture 3 for receiving a screw 4 and nut 4', adapted for clampwise drawing the ends of the band. I together.

Mounted on said band I is a C-shaped clip 5, housing in its bight 6. the square head I of a stud bolt 8 which extends outwardly through a circular aperture 9 in the rearward wall I 0 of the clip 5. Upon its outer or end face, the head I abuts against the band I holding it retentively against the inner face II. of the clip 5. The bolt 8 is provided with a. short' neck portion I2 having a diametrally' increased shank portion I3, the outer surface of which is longitudinally serrated for non-rotational interlocking engagement Within complementarily serrated walls of acircular aperture I4 provided in one of the mounting lugs Id of a. cigarette box C. Threadedly engaged upon the threaded end portion I 6 of the bolt 8 is a nut l6 snugly retaining the lug I5 in'flat abutment against the wall I0 of the clip 5.

correspondingly disposed flat-edged prongs I'I, I8, bent outwardly from the central portions of the margins b9, 20, respectively; of the forward faces of the clip. 5, are provided for biting or gripping engagement in the steering post B.

In actual use, the band I. is loosely disposed around. the steering post B and the ears 2, 2, brought into juxtaposition for receiving the clamping screw 4 which is manually threaded into the nut 4" until the band I is. firmly but, nevertheless, slidably held. around the post B. The band I is then rotated around the steering. post B until the ears 2, 2', are located in some convenient position for access with a hand tool. such as a screw driver or pair of pliers, so that the screw 4 and nut 4 may be readily and simply tightened. Thereupon, the clip5 and its associated. stud bolt 8 are slid around along the band I until located in some laterally presented position. at which the supported cigarette box C will the band I into tight encircling engagement degree of tightness is desired, the band I may be drawn more tightly and will thereupon be slightly bent or deformed as it emerges on either side of.

the clip, so that the portion of the band I extending through the clip will be somewhat flattened, as shown in Figure 3, thereby clamping the clip 5 and band I immovably to each other, while, j with projecting prongs for biting into the post at the same time, forcing the prongs II into the steering post B, and holding the head "I of the stud 8 in tight frictional engagement. Thus, it will be seen that when the ring-clamp is tightened it will be securely and fixedly held against unauthorized shifting, slipping, or other move ment.

If desired, a clip 5, similar to the clip 5, above described, may be provided with pointed prongs II', I8, bent outwardly and perpendicularly to the plane of the forward face of the clips 5, as may best be seen in Figures 5 and 6.

A stud bolt 2| may be provided, substantially similar to the bolt 8, above described, comprising a square head 22, a threaded end 23, a diametrally decreased portion 24 between a serrated shank 25 and a neck portion 26 circumferentially larger than the aperture M of the mounting lug I5 of the cigarette box C. The outer margins of the underside of the neck portion 25 abut against the section of the face of the lug I5 adjacent to the aperture I4, as shown in Figure 6, when the clip 5' is in assembled position.

A further modified form of ring-clamp A may be provided comprising a band I having an elongated slot 21. Provided for co-operation with the band I is a stud bolt 28 having a square head 29 provided with perpendicularly projecting marginal ribs 30, 30, forming a channel 3| for embracingly engaging the sections a of the band I between the outer edges thereof and the slot 21. The neck 32 of the bolt 28 extends through the slot 21 provided in the band I, said slot 21 being preferably wider than the diameter of the circular aperture I4 of the lug I5. The bolt 28 is provided adjacent the neck 32 with a threaded end portion 33 and a diametrally enlarged serrated shank portion 34 adapted for interlocked engagement in the complementarily serrated aperture I4 of the lug I5 of the cigarette box 0. In assembled form, a nut 35, threadably mounted on the end portion 33, holds the outer face 36 of the lug I5 in flush abutment against the band I. Formed integrally with, and projecting from, the outer face of the head 28 are two pointed prongs 31, 31, adapted for biting engagement into the steering post B. It should be particularly noted that a biting or retentive gripping relationship will exist, when in assembled position, between the vertical magins of the lateral edges of the bolt head 28 and the band I, as shown in Figure 7.

It will also be apparent that the prongs [8, for example, serve the additional purpose of providing an electrical connection directly to the metal of the steering post so that any electrical device which may be mounted thereon as an accessory will be suitably grounded.

It should be understood that changes and modifications in the form, construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of the ring-clamp may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the nature and principle of our invention.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: V l. A ring-clamp for mounting an accessory upon a post, said clamp comprising a band adapted to encircle the post, means for tightening the band around the post, a C-shaped clip loosely encircling said band and having an apertured bight, said C-shaped clip being provided I 7 when the band is tightened, and a stud carried by said C-shaped clip and having a shank portion projecting outwardly through the aperture and being provided with a diametrally enlarged serrated portion for non-rotative engagement in a suitable mounting aperture of the accessory, said stud further having a head portion housed in the bight of the C-shaped clip for retentive abutment against said band.

2. A ring-clamp for mounting an accessory upon a post, said clamp comprising a band adapted to encircle the post, means for tightening the band around the post, a C-shaped clip having a bight portion, said band loosely extending through said bight portion, the rear wall of said clip being provided with an aperture, the forward wall of said clip being provided with projecting prongs for biting into the post when the band is tightened, a stud carried by said clip, said stud having a head portion housed in the bight of said clip, the outer face of said head portion abutting against the band for holding it retentively against the forward wall of the clip, said stud further having a shank portion projecting outwardlythrough the aperture and being provided with a diametrally enlarged serrated portion for non-rotative engagement in a suitable mounting aperture of the accessory.

3. For use with an accessory device having a depending aperture mounting-ear, a ring-clamp for mounting the accessory-upon a post or similar structure, said ring-clamp comprising a band, a member loosely encircling said band and integrally including an apertured wall disposed in outwardly spaced parallel relation to the outwardly presented surface of the band on the opposite side thereof with respect to the post upon which the band is mounted, a stud having a flattened head disposed in the space between the band and said apertured wall, said stud being provided with a shank extending outwardly from the head and through the apertured wall for snug-fitting non-rotative disposition in and through the apertured ear of the accessory, said stud further being diametrally reduced on its outwardly projecting end and threaded, and a nut threadedly mounted upon the threaded end of the stud and bearing against the ear of the accessory for forcing the ear of the accessory against the wall of the stud and binding said wall against the head of the stud and, in turn, binding the end of the stud against the band for clamping the entire structure tightly together.

4. For'use with an accessory having a mounting-ear which is provided with an aperture, a ring-clamp for mounting said accessory upon a post, said ring-clamp comprising a band adapted to encircle the post, said band being provided at its ends with outwardly extending spaced parallel ears and a clamping screw operatively mounted in and extending through said ears for tightening the band snugly around the post, a c-shaped clip disposed encirclingly upon said band and having a bight portion extending across the outer faces of the band in outwardly spaced parallel relation thereto, said bight being provided with an aperture, said G-shaped clip further being provided adjacent its ends with projecting prongs extending outwardly from the inner face of the band and being presented toward the post for biting engagement therewith when the band is tightened, a stud having a flattened head disposed in the space between the outer face of the band and the inner face of the bight, said stud being provided with an outwardly projecting shank extending through the bight-aperture and being disposed slidably through the aperture of the accessory-ear, said shank further being diametrally reduced on its outwardlyprojecting end and threaded, and a nut threadedly mounted upon the threaded end of the stud for endwise abutment against the outwardly presented face of the accessory-ear for forcing the accessoryear tightly up against the outwardly presented face of the bight and drawing the band and the bight of the C-shaped clip into tight, binding engagement with the head of the stud.

JULIUS L. KARTY. NIILTON LIEF.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 939,318 Redman Nov. 9, 1909 1,095,242 Swift May 5, 1914 1,342,626 Frank June 8, 1920 1,609,147 White Nov. 30, 1926 1,628,623 Jonnes May 10, 1927 1,732,992 Spiro Oct. 22, 1929 1,959,410 Cohen May 22, 1934 2,299,837 Mayer Oct. 27, 1942 2,443,591 Banks et a1 June 22, 1948 

